SKILLED RIDERS MANAGE HORSE GAIT COMPLEXITY THROUGH A GAIT TRANSITION WHILST ALSO MAINTAINING STABLE HORSE-RIDER COORDINATION VARIABILITY

Equestrian riders aim to cue smooth transitions between horse gaits. This study aimed to investigate whether competitive horse rider (n=10) decrease horse gait regularity and increase horse-rider coordination variability in the region of a gait transition (n=6; both walk-trot, and trot-canter) relative to baseline walk, trot and canter. Resultant accelerations from IMUs affixed to the horse’s girth and rider’s pelvis were calculated. Horse gait regularity was quantified as multiscale sample entropy (MSSE) of the pelvis. Horse-rider coordination variability (Coordvar) was quantified as the standard deviation of the horse-rider continuous relative phase. Pre-transition MSSE did not increase; post-transition MSSE significantly decreased (paired t-tests; pvar were found. Therefore, horse gait or horse-rider Coordvar does not increase in a transition

Influence of functional rider and horse asymmetries on saddle force distribution during stance and in sitting trot

Asymmetric forces exerted on the horse's back during riding are assumed to have a negative effect on rider–horse interaction, athletic performance, and health of the horse. Visualized on a saddle pressure mat, they are initially blamed on a nonfitting saddle. The contribution of horse and rider to an asymmetric loading pattern, however, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of horse and rider asymmetries during stance and in sitting trot on the force distribution on the horse's back using a saddle pressure mat and motion capture analysis simultaneously. Data of 80 horse-rider pairs (HRP) were collected and analyzed using linear (mixed) models to determine the influence of rider and horse variables on asymmetric force distribution. Results showed high variation between HRP. Both rider and horse variables revealed significant relationships to asymmetric saddle force distribution (P < .001). During sitting trot, the collapse of the rider in one hip increased the force on the contralateral side, and the tilt of the rider's upper body to one side led to more force on the same side of the pressure mat. Analyzing different subsets of data revealed that rider posture as well as horse movements and conformation can cause an asymmetric force distribution. Because neither horse nor rider movement can be assessed independently during riding, the interpretation of an asymmetric force distribution on the saddle pressure mat remains challenging, and all contributing factors (horse, rider, saddle) need to be considered

The match between horse and rider

A successful relationship between horse and rider is a partnership based on compatibility and is often referred to as a good match. In the present thesis, ‘match’ includes the good interaction, interplay and cooperation between horse and rider as well as the related positive experience. A good horse-rider match is important for horse welfare, rider safety and good performance. The aim of this thesis was to investigate which parameters riders consider important for a good match, if horse temperament and rider personality affect the horse-rider match, and how this can be measured. Using a survey, the first study showed that riders consider behavioural traits as relevant to a good horse-rider match. It was shown that both age, preferred equitation discipline and to some extent level of experience had an influence on the riders’ opinion of which behavioural traits in horses were most relevant. The second study included a battery of behavioural tests designed to measure individual differences in response to challenges including human approach, isolation, handling and a novel object. The horses showed consistent responses between repetitions of the tests and could be divided in four temperamental categories. The third and final study investigated how quality in horse-rider match is affected by the combination of rider personality and horse temperament, and how this can be measured. Horses-rider dyads with different combinations of rider personality and horse temperament underwent tests including both handling and riding. Three types of indicators to measure and evaluate match were identified and applied: A) rider perception B) horse behaviour and C) the horse-rider combination’s effectiveness in accomplishing a task together. It was shown that rider personality and horse temperament have an effect on match quality, as measured with change in riders’ level of positive affect. This thesis provides a stepping stone to obtain a deeper insight into how good horse-rider match is defined, measured and realised. Harmonisation in the descriptions of match and horse behaviour and further development of appropriate measures is needed

The Horse Rider in African Art

Book Review of The Horse Rider in African Art, by George Chemeche. ISBN 9781851496341. Reviewed by Nicole Beatty

Nurturing Structural Thinking through Teacher-Facilitated Problem Solving

One essential goal of mathematics teaching is to develop the habit of mind and the ability to look for and recognize structures, to probe into and act upon structures, and to reason and justify in terms of general structures. Framed by the five practices for orchestrating productive mathematics discussions (Smith &amp; Stein, 2011), this paper uses the Horse Rider problem as an example to illustrate how teachers can nurture student structural thinking through careful sequencing of mathematical tasks.

The relationship between visual memory and rider expertise in a show-jumping context

Individuals develop visual skills while participating in sport. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of reported riding expertise on the recall of visual information relating to show-jumps. We identified a relevant (F1) and irrelevant (F2) point of focus in 22 photographs of show-jumps. Participants were students (n = 40) with varying levels of horse riding ability. The task, having viewed each photograph for four seconds, was to identify F1s or F2s from four alternatives viewed for ten seconds. F1s were recalled significantly more than F2s (P<0.001). Riding expertise did not affect overall recall but only intermediate/advanced riders recalled F1s significantly better than F2s (P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively). Recall of F1s but not of F2s was significantly correlated with riding expertise (P<0.05). Training riders in visual attention techniques might improve ridden performance and could reduce the number of accidents associated with lack of experience and/or rider error

An exploration of stakeholder perceptions to inform the development of an evidence-based classification system in para dressage.

In dressage, horse-rider combinations must demonstrate harmony whilst performing a test of gaits and movements, scored by judge(s) using predetermined criteria. The para dressage governing body is working towards compliance with the International Paralympic Committee’s mandate for evidence-based classification, which requires a comprehensive understanding of key performance determinants. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perceptions surrounding the key determinants of, and impact of impairment on, para dressage sports performance. Semi-structured interviews with 30 para dressage stakeholders (athletes, classifiers, judges, coach) were analysed using the Framework method. Themes relating to the equine and human athlete were associated with overall dressage performance and discussed within the context of impairment and horse-rider partnership. Key performance determinants were summarised as the athlete’s ability to maintain dynamic postural control for absorbing the horse’s movement and coordinating leg, hand, and seat aids, which directly influence the horse’s quality and accuracy of movements during dressage. Thus, muscular coordination, joint mobility that influences rider posture, and personality traits that influence the horse-rider partnership were considered performance determinants. These themes will inform the development of an evidence-based classification system, through the establishment of standardised, sport-specific performance measures for assessing the relationship between impairment and activity limitation in para dressage

Jockey Falls, Injuries, and Fatalities Associated With Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Racing in California, 2007-2011.

BackgroundDespite the popularity of the horse racing industry in the United States and the wide recognition that horse racing is one of the most hazardous occupations, little focused research into the prevention of falls by and injuries to jockeys has been conducted.PurposeTo describe the incidence rates and characteristics of falls and injuries to Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing jockeys in the state of California.Study designDescriptive epidemiology study.MethodsData on race-day falls and injuries were extracted from jockey accident reports submitted to the California Horse Racing Board from January 2007 to December 2011. Denominator data, number of jockey race rides, were obtained from commercial and industry databases. Jockey fall, injury, and fatality incidence rates and ratios in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse flat races were estimated using Poisson regression. Characteristics of falls and injuries are described and compared.ResultsIn Thoroughbred races, 184 jockey injuries occurred from 360 reported jockey falls, 180,646 race rides, 23,500 races, and 3350 race meetings. In Quarter Horse races, 85 jockey injuries occurred from 145 jockey falls, 46,106 race rides, 6320 races, and 1053 race meetings. Jockey falls occurred at a rate of 1.99 falls per 1000 rides in Thoroughbred races, with 51% of falls resulting in jockey injury, and 3.14 falls per 1000 rides in Quarter Horse races, with 59% of falls resulting in jockey injury. The majority of falls occurred during a race, with catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse reported as the most common cause in both Thoroughbred (29%) and Quarter Horse (44%) races. During the period studied, 1 jockey fatality resulted from a fall. Jockey fall rates were lower but injury rates were comparable to those reported internationally.ConclusionOn average, a licensed jockey in California can expect to have a fall every 502 rides in Thoroughbred races and every 318 rides in Quarter Horse races. While jockey fall rates were lower, injury rates were similar to those in other racing jurisdictions. The high proportion of jockey falls caused by horse fatalities should be further investigated

Keeping your eye on the rail: gaze behaviour of horse riders approaching a jump

The gaze behaviour of riders during their approach to a jump was investigated using a mobile eye tracking device (ASL Mobile Eye). The timing, frequency and duration of fixations on the jump and the percentage of time when their point of gaze (POG) was located elsewhere were assessed. Fixations were identified when the POG remained on the jump for 100 ms or longer. The jumping skill of experienced but non-elite riders (n=10) was assessed by means of a questionnaire. Their gaze behaviour was recorded as they completed a course of three identical jumps five times. The speed and timing of the approach was calculated. Gaze behaviour throughout the overall approach and during the last five strides before take-off was assessed following frame-by-frame analyses. Differences in relation to both round and jump number were found. Significantly longer was spent fixated on the jump during round 2, both during the overall approach and during the last five strides (p , 0.05). Jump 1 was fixated on significantly earlier and more frequently than jump 2 or 3 (p , 0.05). Significantly more errors were made with jump 3 than with jump 1 (p=0.01) but there was no difference in errors made between rounds